Chapter 19

Stephanie's POV

With everything that had happened the past few days, it'd totally slipped my mind that when I'd gone to find out where Lester had taken Luci, I'd let slip a pertinent piece of information. The fact that I'd done so, and that Ranger hadn't forgotten, was brought home to me when we left the hospital after taking Luci her baby names books.

Ranger led me out to the Turbo, and after making sure I was situated, he climbed behind the wheel and drove usback to RangeMan. I was only mildly surprised that we endedup there rather than at Alexander's or back at my apartment, but still, he was taking time out of his busy schedule to drive me around. I wasn't going to complain.

We made our way up to the fifth floor in the elevator, and then he led me to his office. Once we were inside and the door was closed, Ranger motioned toward the sofa and said, "Have a seat, Babe."

My stomach started doing that thing it did when things were about to get dicey. That's when I remembered what I'd inadvertently let slip several days before.

Ranger sat down in the chair opposite of where I was sitting and leaned forward with his hands clasped under his chin as he stared at me.

I was determined not to blink first. This wasn't my first time on this merry-go-round after all, andevery time before I'd been able to bluff my way clear.

So...there we were...staring into each other's eyes.

A knock sounded on the door, and without looking away, Ranger said, "Enter."

Although I couldn't see who'd entered the room because I refused to look away first, I sensed whoever it was would be extremely large since over half the room was suddenly in shadow because they were blocking the light. Then a deep voice said, "Sorry, Rangeman. I got that info you wanted."

Ranger nodded as his gaze remained fixed on mine. "Just leave it on the desk."

Whoever it was hesitated.

Ranger narrowed his eyes and said, "Dismissed."

Silently they moved from the room and closed the door.

The room started to get uncomfortably hot.

Somehow, my mind went from being determined to not be thefirst one to blink to thinking that the man seated before me was one hot guy. I started wondering what he would taste like as I ran my lips over his body and how he would feel against me. Now normally I didn't think like that in a situation such as this...but then, Ranger was no ordinary guy.

I felt myself leaning closer.

His nostrils flared as his eyes heated with desire.

A knock sounded on the door once more, but he ignored it. When the knock sounded again a couple minutes later, he growled and demanded, "What?"

The door opened, and once again the light in the room was eclipsed. "Sorry, Rangeman. You have an encrypted message that just came in. It's marked urgent."

Ranger let out a frustrated sigh and stood, stalking over to his desk to read the message.

I let out a sigh and looked to see the big guy from the fundraiser standing beside Ranger. If I remembered right, at the hospital, Ranger had introduced him as his second in command, Tank.

Ranger gestured toward the message. "Have you read this?"

Tank nodded.

Ranger continued, saying, "It seems our 'old friend' Nelson Rasputen is up to his old tricks. Do they have any idea where this baby girl is coming from?"

Tank's eyes rounded in surprise and then his head tilted slightly in my direction, but he remained silent.

Ranger chuckled. "Who do you think dug up all of our intel on him for this last mission?"

Tank looked over to where I was sitting.

The knots in my stomach were suddenly developing knots of their own. I stood and made my way over to where the two of them were. "You said a baby girl?"

Ranger turned and looked at me for a couple of seconds, and then he nodded. "According to our source. He received a telegram informing him the seller had a newborn girl they'd be sending along. And if he's got a customer, the child's mother might be for sale."

Cold chills raced down my spine.

Ranger frowned and took a step toward me. "Stephanie, are you all right?"

I shook my head and demanded, "I need a laptop I can use."

Ranger placed his hand at the small of my back and nodded at his computer. "Just use my desktop."

I quickly moved around the desk and waited until Ranger keyed in the password, unlocking the system from sleep mode, before I sat down and got to work.It took me ten minutes of chasing the trail, but I finally found the rabbit I'd been chasing. When I saw just what they were planning, I narrowed my eyes as I glared at the information before me and said, "Not on my watch, you won't, you scum-sucking bastard!"

Ranger moved around the desk and placed his hand on my shoulder as he asked, "What did you find?"

I looked up at him, watching as he read the information on the screen. I knew the exact moment he'd read just who the weasel was planning on sending to Rasputen, because Ranger tensed.

He turned to Tank and said, "Get the team and head to the conference room."

"What about Lester?"

Ranger growled, "He'll want to know about this. Send Binkie, Zip, Zero, and Diaz to the hospital to guard Luci and the baby until Lester can get back there."

Tank nodded and left the room.

As soon as the door closed behind Tank, Ranger turned to me and said, "While we're waiting for everyone, suppose we talk about how you came by your information."

For a split second I thought about playing dumb, but not only did I know that wouldn't work, I didn't want to lie to Ranger. Lifting a shoulder, I told him. "I've spent the last eight years looking after Luci. She's like a little sister to me, and I care about her very much. I was furious at the stunts Lester had been pulling, andonce I had his last name, I vowed to find out everything about him that I could. I didn't know I'd find out things about you as well, but once I was in, I couldn't very well un-see anything."

"So you were the breech at the Pentagon."

I nodded.

He narrowed his eyes.

Just as I was about to start squirming, he grinned. "Just how fond are you of working for Alexander?"

I shrugged. "I made him a promise ten years ago, andI've kept my end of the bargain."

Ranger's eyebrow lifted. "Ten years ago?"

I nodded. "Long story short, my niece was kidnapped. When I learned Alexander had had altercations with the man, I tried getting in to talk to him but was given the runaround, so I broke in. We talked, and he ended up helping me. In exchange, I'm working for him."

"Your niece was a victim of Rasputen?"

I nodded. "Yes."

He nodded. "She was about two, if I remember correctly."

I felt my breath hitch. I couldn't believe he remembered after all this time.

Ranger nodded. "I remember every child we've saved from that bastard. This last time, I came close to ending him. Unfortunately, he got away before that could happen."

"Maybe you'll have better luck this time. There'll be more of us to help make sure he doesn't get away."

Ranger laughed. "With who he's going after...I don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell he'll make it out of this breathing. I'm okay with not being the one to end him, as long as he is indeed ended. Now we just need to figure out who his supplier is."

I grinned. "I was hoping you'd say that. I have an idea."

Ranger leaned down and kissed my forehead. "Be my guest."

This time it took me longer to find what I needed. I'd followed the rabbit to the buyer, and now I was backtracking to find who was doing the selling. Whoever it was wasn't the brightest crayon in the box, but he'd put up some safety nets to hide behind. When the information popped up on the screen, I couldn't help the swear word that escaped as I slapped my hand on Ranger's desk.

I looked up at him and said, "He's signed his own death warrant with what he's planning. Once this comes out, there'll be no saving him."

Ranger lifted an eyebrow. "I take it you know this guy."

I nodded. "Oh yeah. I've only had a few dealings with him, and he gives me the creeps. But I never pictured him doing something like this."

"Looks like we'll be making a few phone calls."

Looking up at Ranger, I said, "Better let me do this one. I've had more practice."

Ranger chuckled. "Yes, but I've had more practice with explosions."

I nodded. "He's certainly going to do that."